Wisconsin Basketball Defeats Iowa 83-72: Takeaways and Notes

Greg Gard and the Wisconsin basketball program started off 2024 on the right foot, defeating Iowa 83-72.

The Badgers returned from their extended holiday break with a shaky first-half performance before making a quick turnaround in the final 20 minutes to move to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play. 

Here are some takeaways from Wisconsin’s win over the Hawkeyes. 

Wisconsin Basketball Dominated the Paint

Despite hitting just 4-of-16 shots from beyond the arc, Wisconsin was still able to come away with a win thanks to strong play in the paint.

“Our bread and butter is still playing through the paint,” Greg Gard said during postgame media availability. “It’s always a point of emphasis no matter who we play. I tell them all the time I don’t care if you’re six feet or seven feet; you can do some damage there.”

Steven Crowl was a huge reason for Wisconsin’s success down low, going 6-10 from the field with four shots hitting from inside the paint. He had a slow start in the first half before rattling off ten points in the second half as he was able to have his way with Iowa defenders down low. The junior also tacked on 13 rebounds, two assists, and a block on the night. 

Wisconsin made a concerted effort to be more aggressive in the second half. That aggression paid off, as the Badgers forced foul after foul, earning a whopping 26 free throw attempts in the final 20 minutes of play. 

UW made their bread in the paint and at the free throw line, and that’s something that will undoubtedly continue as the Badgers venture deeper into Big Ten play.

Wisconsin Basketball Had Solid Contributions Off the Bench

Wisconsin’s depth has shined through this year, something that couldn’t be said for past Badger teams. 

“I had three guys I wanted to get in that I couldn’t,” Greg Gard said. “It’s a blessing and a curse to have this depth.”

Kamari McGee made an instant impact off the bench, specifically on the defensive end. The junior had three steals on the night, while also adding on two points, two assists, and two rebounds.

“You look at the stat sheet, and you see the three steals; that’s huge,” guard Max Klesmit said about McGee. “Having a guy like that we can pull of the bench and give us some life really carried over to the second half.”

John Blackwell also made his presence known on Tuesday, recording five points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. The freshman has really come into his own, and his contributions off the bench have been and will continue to be vital for this team. 

Carter Gilmore and Nolan Winter saw some time, notching three and five points, respectively. Winter has started to refine his game in the post, something that Gard praised him for post game. If the true freshman stays on this trajectory, he could be a really great option going forward. 

AJ Storr Continues to Be the Spark Plug for Wisconsin Basketball

AJ Storr is a really fun player to watch. Hot take, I know. 

The sophomore had another excellent night, recording 16 points, two rebounds, an assist, and a block against the Hawkeyes. He was a big part of UW’s aggressiveness in the lane, showing no fear driving into contested lanes and hitting tough baskets. 

I’d be remiss if I did not mention the highlight of the night: Chucky Hepburn’s pass off the glass to AJ Storr that nearly blew the roof off of the Kohl Center. 

CHUCKY OFF THE GLASS FOR AJ‼️@ChuckyHepburn x @storr_aj pic.twitter.com/zPmSd4NRUc

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 3, 2024

Storr has brought another dimension to this Badgers offense that it hasn’t had in a very long time. The former St. John’s transfer has been everything Wisconsin needed and more in the first 13 games of the season. 

Notes/Final Thoughts

Greg Gard said in postgame media availability that Connor Essegian has been practicing well and is trending in a good direction, but the sophomore did not check in until garbage time and logged one rebound on the night. 

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Chucky Hepburn was questionable going into tonight’s game, but he was out there with the starters and put up four points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. The junior did have to be held off the court for some time due to foul trouble, and he clearly wasn’t at 100%. Still, I thought he performed well under the circumstances. 

***

Max Klesmit has continued to improve game after game, and his 15 points tonight mark his fourth time scoring in double figures this season. 

The Wisconsin basketball program will take on Nebraska on Saturday as they look to remain unbeaten in Big Ten play.

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